Improvement in rifled muzzles for smooth-bo red guns



Patented Dec. 16, .1862.

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G, R. ALSOP, Riing Fire-Arms.

UNITED Srarns FATENT Ormea.

CHAS.. R. ALSOP, OF MIDDLETOVN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH V. ALSOP, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y.

VIMPROVEMENT IN RIFLED IVIUZZLES FOR SMOOTH-BORED GUNS.

Spccii cation forming part of Letters Patent No. 37, 193, dated December 16, 1862.

,To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHARLEs R. Anser, o the city of Middletown, in the county of Middlesex, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire- Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which drawings like letters indicate the same or analogous parts, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of asmoothbore ride-barrel with my improvement attached; Fig. 2, a View showing a portion of a smooth-bore gun-barrel having a grooved or rided muzzle attached, the muzzle and a portion of the smooth-bore being shown in section; Fig. 3, a perspective of a rided muzzle of a gun-barrel, with a portion of its diameter cut away at one end and a screw-thread cut thereon, and Fig. 4, a view of the muzzle and barrel with differing diameters of bore.

My improvement consists in applying to the muzzle of an ordinary smooth bore gun a rided muzzle, or an additional length or section of barrel groovcd or rided in the usual inanner, for the purpose of imparting rotary motion to the ball or projectile at the moment it leaves the gun, and in so applying such rided section or muzzle that the impact of the ball upon the riding in the act of its rotation shall cause the muzzle to have a tendency to retain its position upon the main or smooth-bore portion of the gun-barrel, and thus preserve a gastight joint.

In the drawings, A represents a portion of a ride-barrel, having a smooth bore throughout, as at I), with a removable muzzle, C, rided or grooved, as at d, in the ordinary manner. The muzzle C, for practical purposes, need not be more than two or three inches in length, and the twist of the groove or riding must be such a variation from a right line as will be sufficient to give rotation to a ball or projectile at the moment of leaving the gun without stripping the ball. The muzzle at e is reduced in diameter and a screw-thread cut thereon and made to fit into a female screw 2, the said male and female screw being so formed in relation to the rotation of the ball caused by the grooves or riding of the section or muzzle C that the said muzze will, by the dight of the ball, have a tendency to be screwed upon the main barrel A, and thus always preserve a gas-tight joint between the muzzle and the main barrel. In other words, if the twist of the riding is in the direction of right to left, then the construction of the male and female screws must be such that the same direction of movement will permit the muzzle to be screwed upon the barrel.

In Fig.'2 I have shown the diameter of the smooth-bore portion A and the rided portion C the same; but for the purpose of giving greater impact of the projectile upon the rided portion the diameter of the smooth-bore may be greater than that of the muzzle, say, by double the depth of the riding, as in Fig. 4., so that the projectile, if inserted in the breech and closely dtting the smooth-bored portion, will be slightly compressed when it enters the muzzle C, and with certainty take into the riding, and so insure a rotary motion as it leaves the gun. For this purpose the diameter of the bore Z) should be made to gradually diminish to the diameter of the bore d, as in Fig. 4, between the lines a a and a a. muzzle-loading guns, however, it will be sufficient to have the muzzle-piece C and smoothbore portion A of the same diameter throughout, and if a Mini ball be used the expansion of its base in the act of iiring will cause the ball to take sufficiently into the grooves of the muzzle to insure its rotation.

It may here be observed that in dring an ordinary grooved ride two motions are imparted to the projectile from the start-to wit, a longitudinal and a rotary motion. The consequence is a large amount of friction is engendered the entire length of the riding, and which acts as a retarding power, but by my improvement the initial movement is horizontal only, and with but little friction through the smooth-bore, so that when the rided muzzle is reached by the projectile a sufficient momentum has vaccummulated to in a great degree overcome the friction of the riding. Thus, the projectile having attained a high degree For of Velocity by the time it reaches the muzzle, I A riedA muzzle, in combination with at` a rotary motion is imparted to it by the mere smooth-bore gun-barrel, substantially in the expenditure of a minimum amount of -poWer manner and for the purpose set forth.

for such purposes.- CHAS. R. ALSOP.

Having thus described my invention, what I Witnesses:

- claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters E. W. N. STARR,

Patent of the United States, isl WALDO P. VINAL. 

